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Happy 30th National Day to everyone in Brunei. From the Sunday Herald of Scotland today on our 30th National Day by sheer coincidence, there is a letter to the editor entitled "If Brunei can do it, then so can Scots". Brunei is cited as an example that Scotland can emulate:

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If Brunei can do it, then so can Scots
Sunday 23 February 2014

Thirty years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of attending the first National Day ceremonies of a small, oil-rich country, Brunei Darussalam, which had had full independence imposed upon it by the government of the United Kingdom six weeks earlier.

Although not a democratic country, any reluctance to accept independence was pushed aside by the ruler, Sultan Sir Hassanal Bolkiah, who adopted a positive approach which was embraced by a population determined to make a successful independent country.

Since then Brunei Darussalam has played above its weight, building up its armed forces - notably its Clyde-built navy purchasing vessels - …

Brunei Darussalam's 23rd National Day is coming. We are beginning to receive congratulations from many countries. I found this one from John Kerry, the American Secretary of State which you can link for yourself at http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221845.htm. Not many know that Brunei sign a Friendship Agreement with the American government way back in the mid 19th century. I have written about it in the past. Here is the greeting:

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On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send my most heartfelt congratulations to the people of Brunei Darussalam as you celebrate your 30th National Day on February 23.

Our formal diplomatic relations began in 1984, but the friendship between our two countries goes back more than 160 years. The depth and value of this relationship was plain for me to see during my two visits to your wonderful “Abode of Peace” last year. Our excellent cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral settings is vital to the …

I bought a whole bunch of black and white photographs and will be uploading them one by one. This one intrigued me the most. There were yachts on the Brunei River in the 1950s and 1960s. I have almost forgotten that the Brunei Yacht Club now in Serasa used to be located where the current Arts and Handicraft Centre is. If there are still yachts on Brunei River, it would look like Auckland or Sydney and other watery cities around the world. Though I wonder how they would cope with the criss crossing high speed water taxis!

This
looks like a modern postcard of Brunei. But looks can be deceiving.
This postcard is more than 30 years old, believe it or not.

What
gives this away are probably several things. One is the Royal Dais. The
location of this Royal Dais is in front of the SOAS Mosque. Nowadays
the Royal Dais is permanently in front of the Secretariat Building which
the Mosque is now to the right of the Royal Dais.

Secondly
look closely at the flags waving in front of the Royal Dais. There is a
Union Jack clearly visible. Only in pre-1984 was the Union Jack, the
British flag was clearly seen as Brunei at that time was still a
'protectorate' of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland.

Finally, the uniforms. I am sure the uniforms
have changed but I just don't know enough about military uniforms to
describe the changes.

Additionally, which is not visible, the postcard was published by Dairy Farm, a company which no longer exist in Brunei. My best guess is that …

Many
years ago I discovered there was a set of stamps which was unissued and
supposedly that all the stamps have been destroyed. I was thinking
whether these stamps would ever be found or whether there would be
survivors.

A few years ago, when I went to my stamp
dealer which I always frequent whenever I go to Singapore, he showed me a
set. I nearly fainted, It cost me an arm and a leg and I finally got
that set. Surprisingly a few months after that I saw another set on
eBay. The prices on that jumped so high that it went beyond what I would
have paid for it which was about US$1000+. After that I did not see any
more of these stamps.

Yesterday, at one of the houses I
visited for Chinese New Year, the owner showed me these three sets. I
have only seen two sets throughout my life and was suddenly in front of
me was three other sets! When he said would I like to buy it, I
definitely was more than interested for the right price. I offered my
price and after two tries I got …